Raven hid a lot of stuff.
He didn’t even know her full, complete name.
When he asked Smokey, the other man refused to give it to him.
Why?
Was Raven running from someone? Was she in hiding? The club wasn’t a front for her. Raven was tough. She had strength. The brothers protected her, and she always had their backs, but something was not quite right.
“So how are you going to pick a wife?” Raven asked. “Do you just fuck them all, and the one that ends up pregnant is the lucky gal?”
Carlos shook his head. “No.”
“The whole virgin thing.”
“I don’t make the rules.”
“I thought that is what a boss did,” Raven said. “You’re the one in charge, so you can make the rules. They sound a little backward and archaic to me, but then, I’m a modern woman.” She held her hands open, picked up a fry, and shoved it in her mouth.
Damn it. Did she have any idea how fucking sexy she was?
From the moment Carlos had seen her, he’d been drawn to her, and that hadn’t changed. Not a single bit.
He wanted her. Thought about her often.
It was a little obsessive, but he couldn’t help it. Raven wasn’t like the women he was used to with seeing those girls, and that was what they were the other night around his table, girls. Raven was all woman.
“Why don’t you make your own rules?” Raven asked.
“I have men who expect certain things of me.”
“And they only give you respect if you fuck a virgin?” Raven finished off her food as the milkshake arrived.
She smiled at the woman and took the glass from her.
Her lips wrapped around the straw, and he couldn’t look away as she sucked. He imagined those lips wrapped around his dick. Would she gag on his length? Swallow his cum?
“They respect tradition.”
“Sometimes traditions can be changed. Your men sound like assholes.”
He finished up his food, and there was no way he could stand up. Raven would see the evidence of his arousal for her.
Carlos looked toward the waitress, beckoning her over. He noticed the way she puffed out her chest, trying to show off her tits.
One look at Raven, and he saw her smile.
“I’ll have a chocolate milkshake as well,” Carlos said. “Shut up.”
Raven giggled. “I’m sorry. Don’t you think she was a bit obvious?”
“She was a lot obvious.”
Raven’s laughter suddenly died as she looked toward the door. Curious, Carlos checked his vantage point and saw Smokey arriving with Ava, and he was carrying a baby seat in his hand.
Raven looked pale.
Carlos didn’t like this. “What’s wrong?”
“Can we change places?” Raven asked. “Quickly.”
Carlos didn’t argue, but they changed spots, and Raven moved as close to the window as possible.
She was hiding. And he knew she was hiding from Ava.
“Does that woman scare you?” Carlos asked.
“No,” Raven said. She checked the mirror in the corner that he had used, and she cursed.
Smokey and Ava were getting a table.
“Shit!” Raven nibbled on her lip, and it was the first time he’d seen her nervous.
“I will go and distract them,” Carlos said.
“I’ve got to pay the bill.”
“I’ll handle it. While I distract, you can leave,” Carlos said.
She went to grab him as he stood up and left.
He didn’t know why he was helping her, but seeing her trying to be invisible was … upsetting.
From what his sources told him, Raven had dealt with Ava based on Smokey’s instructions.
Personally, he felt both were in the wrong, but as Smokey was the guy in charge, he should be the one taking the fall, not Raven. And he didn’t think that because he wanted Raven. Smokey was the Prez. He gave the order. It should have been him who dealt with it.
He approached Smokey’s table and was sure to stand in front of Ava.
“I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced,” Carlos said, holding his hand out to the beautiful woman.
She looked tired. Having a baby could do that.
“Santiago, what are you doing?” Smokey asked.
“Oh, I forgot to call. I’m back in town. I was just enjoying lunch, but now I’ve got to go.”
“Isn’t that Raven’s bike outside?” Ava asked.
“I don’t know,” Smokey said.
“I’m sure it is.” Ava tried to look around Carlos, but Raven was about to pass him. He needed to help her escape. He didn’t know why he felt this way. Raven was no responsibility to him, and it wasn’t up to him to make her feel better.
Seeing her looking so panicked, he felt this need to protect her.
As for Smokey, he didn’t understand this asshole. Didn’t he see what was happening?
Ava even looked a little disappointed. Was he reading that situation right? Why the fuck did he even care? This wasn’t his responsibility. The Hell’s Bastards MC was Smokey’s territory.
He had his own problems, and he didn’t have time to get involved in MC drama.